Martha Mae Garner

MARTHA MAE GARNER, AGE 83, DIED PEACEFULLY IN ALEXANDRIA, VA., ON WEDNESDAY, DEC 7TH, 2011 IN THE PRESENCE OF HER FAMILY AND HER LORD.BORN IN AUGUST 1928 IN KNOXVILLE, TN, TO HESTER ELIZABETH WHALEY BUSH & GESTLE CONLEY BUSH. WHILE STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL MARTHA WORKED AS A CANDY STRIPER AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL DURING WWII. SHE MET HER HUSBAND-TO-BE RICHARD GORDON GARNER WHILE ON A DOUBLE DATE WITH HER SISTER CLARA & HIS BEST FRIEND, JOHNNY, WHO HAD BEEN WOUNDED IN THE WAR.MARTHA & RICHARD MARRIED IN SEPTEMBER OF 1947 AND SOON BEGAN A FAMILY OF THEIR OWN. WHILE RAISING THEIR FOUR CHILDREN, MARTHA SERVED AS PTA PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT OF THE ALEXANDRIA BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE, PRESIDENT OF THE WOMEN?S MINISTRY AT 1ST BAPTIST OF ALEXANDRIA IN THE EARLY 80?S BEFORE BECOMING AN ACTIVE MEMBER AT 1ST ASSEMBLY OF GOD, ALEXANDRIA WHERE SHE ATTENDED AND SERVED IN VARIOUS CAPACITIES UNTIL HER DEATH.SHE WAS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HER BROTHER, GESTLE, JR., IN 1978; HER SON LARRY IN 1992; HER HUSBAND OF 54 YEARS RICHARD IN 2001; AND HER SISTER CLARA IN 2010.SHE IS SURVIVED BY HER SON AND DAUGHTER-IN-LAW MARK GARNER & JULIE SMITH OF MINNEAPOLIS, MN; HER DAUGHTER ELIZABETH LISA GARNER OF THE HOME; HER DAUGHTER AND SON- IN-LAW JOYCE & ERIC KOSS OF PLYMOUTH, NC.; HER DAUGHTER-IN- LAW KAREN GARNER OF SARASOTA, FL; HER GRAND DAUGHTER ELENA GARNER OF MINNEAPLIS, MN; HER GRAND DAUGHTER KATIE GARNER OF SARASOTA FL; HER GRAND SON CHARLIE KOSS, GRAND DAUGHTERS BRITTANIE & ANGIE KOSS OF PLYMOUTH, NC AND HER DOG, SASHA.MARTHA?S VIEWING WILL BE HELD FROM 6-8PM, SATURDAY, DEC 10TH AT 1ST ASSEMBLY OF GOD, 700 WEST BRADDOCK ROAD, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22302. HER MEMORIAL SERVICE WILL BE HELD AT 3PM SUNDAY, DEC 11TH AT THE SAME LOCATION. A PRIVATE INTERMENT WILL BE HELD AT QUANTICO NATIONAL CEMETERY ON MONDAY DECEMBER 12,2011MARTHA WILL BE ESPECIALLY REMEMBERED FOR HER LOVE OF JESUS, HER DEEP DEVOTION TO HER FAMILY AND HER UNSELFISH KINDNESS TO OTHERS AND HER QUICK LAUGH AND EVER PRESENT SPARKLE IN HER EYES. SHE WAS A TRUE WOMAN OF THE WORD & HER GENUINE FAITH WAS SHOWN IN HER EVERY DAY LIFE. IN THE WORDS OF HER DECEASED HUSBAND AT THEIR 50TH ANNIVERSARY ?MARTHA WAS QUIET, GENTLE, STEADY LOVING AND KIND; A PERSON WHO TRULY KNEW HOW TO MOVE THE ARM OF GOD THROUGH PRAYER.?